When asked whether they can afford not to get a dog, most dog lovers will ask whether they can afford not to! We all know the value of having a dog in the home. They provide unconditional love, along with cuddles, excitement, and endless cuteness.
However, there are considerable expenses when you get a dog. These need to be planned out, even if they’re not going to prevent you from going ahead. They may impact some of your decisions, especially as to breed.
To help you understand some of the expenses, here is what you can expect to pay for when getting a dog.
Expensive breeds
Adopting a dog from a shelter is certainly the most responsible option when it comes to helping out animals already in need. However, many people have conflicting responsibilities. This is especially true for people with children, as when you adopt a dog from a shelter, it may be carrying a lot of trauma.
There are other reasons people go to breeders. Dog lovers with allergies need to find hypoallergenic dogs, which is difficult when you can’t be sure of a dog’s pedigree. Furthermore, there are responsible breeders out there.
Some breeds are incredibly expensive, though. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy can cost over £4,000! If you decide that an expensive breed is worth it, considering the joy it will bring you over the years, remember that there will be other expenses you need to budget for before you truly know if you can afford it.
Vaccinations
Every dog needs vaccinations as a puppy, due to a number of diseases that can be fatal and are fairly common. Rabies is one of the most important vaccines as rabid dogs become dangerous.
Vaccines are not prohibitively expensive, but you do need to include them in your budget. If you are buying from a breeder, they will probably include vaccinations in the overall cost.
Spaying / Neutering
As with breeding, there is debate about the ethics of spaying and neutering puppies. We won’t get too much into it, but it is important to take the benefits into account before making your decision.
Dogs which have not been spayed or neutered can run off when they are in heat (females) or when they detect a female in heat (males). Females in particular are at risk, as dogs in the area will flock to them and mating can be brutal. Your dog might end up badly hurt.
If you decide to get your dogs neutered or spayed, there are more related expenses than you expect. According to Lemonade Pet Insurance, you might incur the following costs:
Pre-op exam: the vet will examine your dog to make sure it is in good health and ready for an operation.
Anaesthesia: small dogs do not require nearly as much anaesthetic as big dogs, and the bigger the dog the more expensive the procedure becomes.
Surgery: the surgery itself does not require a ton of expensive resources, but the vet’s specialist time is expensive. Neutering is a lot quicker than spaying. Neutering can take as little as five minutes, while spaying can take up to ninety.
Post-op: while the surgery might not last long, they do need to spend some time recovering from the effects of anaesthesia.
Medication: your dog will need sedatives, pain medication, and antibiotics.
Cone: so as to ensure that your dog does not tear out the stitches, you will need to pay for a cone collar.
Pet Insurance
One more expense you need to consider is pet insurance. You may not think it necessary, but pet insurance can save you a lot of money in the long run. Emergency vet visits are extremely expensive, and accidents and unexpected illnesses happen.
If your pet requires an operation, you will be truly grateful for your pet insurance. Pet insurance is more affordable than the possibility of a massive vet bill when your dog needs care most.
Getting a dog is an expensive endeavour, even if you adopt from a shelter. When buying from a breeder, the expenses are much greater, and that is before you account for other necessary costs. Take these expenses into account when choosing your dog so that they don’t have to go without important procedures.
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